Fluid motor assembly



April 29, 1952 c. R. BUTTON 2,594,288

FLUID MOTOR ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l A TTORN MW M April 29, 1952 Filed Oct. 29, 1945 c. R. BUTTON 2,594,288

FLUID MOTOR ASSEMBLY 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 VENTOR ATTORNE April 29, 1952 c. R. BUTTON 2,594,288

FLUID MOTOR ASSEMBLY Filed Oct. 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 `IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIlll l I ||||IIIIIIIIIIIIIHIIIIIIII VEN TOR A TTORNE April 29, 1952 c. R. BUTTON FLUID MOTOR ASSEMBLY Filed OCT.. 29, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F'gJ/ PRsssz/RE 28 BY MW W ATTORAIF/v Patented Apr. 29, 1952 UNITED STATES PAT/ENT OFF'I-C E FLUID `MOTOR ASSEMBLY Clarence Rayutton, Rochester, N. Y.

Applcationoctober29, 1945, Serial No. 625,259

(CLIM-.121)

The present invention relatesito a iluidmotor assembly and more particularly toa huid-motor assembly having la uniform path for `the fluid so that higher speed and eiliciency of operation are attainable.

The primary object of the present inventioniis the provision of'a fluid motor -assembly in which the uid exhaust is in substantially the same direction as movementof the uid duringdisplacement of the pistonfor its Working: stroke.

Anotherobject of the invention isa Huid-'motor assembly in which the fluid exhaust extends through the piston member for dischargingfluid from the cylinder substantially in the samedirection as'theworking stroke ofthepiston'member.

A further object is a. fluid motor-assembly which is capable of high-speed operationwand compact enough to be mounted within'the wheel of an automobile or similar Vehicle.

Still another object of the invention isa fluid motor assembly in which ailuid exhaust passage is provided through the pistonmemberand in whicha motion transmitting means has va member movable to open and close saidffluid vexhaust passage in proper timed relation to movement of the piston member.V

A still further object efl the invention isa -uid motor assembly that can be readily reversed.

Another object isithe provision` of-k a fluid` motor assembly having aI pair ofvuid exhaustg'passa'ges through thepistonmember anda reversing means for closing one and openingtheother ofsaidfluid exhaust passages to. reverse the direction otrotation of said motor assembly.

A further object Y is the provision of `a -fluid motor assembly hav-inga-pair of fluid exhaust passages through` the piston-member thereof? and a mechanically operated reversingmeans -for'controlling the opening and closing'of'said'passages for forward or reverse rotation of said ,motor fassembly.

Still another object is a fluid-motor assembly having one or more pairs .of cylinders andembodying the fluid uniflow -principleof the-invention for high efficiency and high speed operation and compact constructioneof the assembly.

Other and further objects of the :invention, such as special arrangements. of the piston members, ofthe exhaust passages therethrough-,wand of the reversing means, willk be apparentfto. .those skilled in the art from theV description :which follows.

To this end my invention consiststhemovel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and describedvandimore:para ticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

r`Reference isnow made .to the accompanying drawingswherein like reference characters designate like'or corresponding parts and wherein:

Fig. i1 isa .vertical'section of -a two cylinder fluid :motor assembly according to the-invention andis` taken on the line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2-is a horizontalsection of saidtwo cylinder fluid-motor'assembly taken on the line 2-2 of 1.

Fig.v 3 is a perspective of the fluid inlet valve operated by the shaft of said two cylinderfluid motorassembly. I

Fig. 4 -is airont elevationY of a four cylinder fluid.` motor assembly'according to the invention.

Fig. .5.is a top view of saidfour cylinder fluid motorfassembly.

lFig..6'is a. horizontal section of said four cylinderfluid-motor assembly taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4.

Figa? is a side detail of the valve operator. Y-Fig. 8 isa bottomview of said valve operator. .-Figs. 9--and 10 are respectively top and side views of the fluid inlet valve.

Fig. 11 isa top view of an inlet valve assembly for one ldirection of said four cylinder fluid motor assembly.

Fig..1.2 is also a tcp view of said inlet valve assembly set for opposite rotation of said four cylinder uidmotor assembly.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic illustration ofthe inlet lines yandvalvesfor a reversible four cylinderfluidV motor assembly according tothe invention. y

v.Throughout thespecication and claims and as the context permits, the term fluid is used in its-broader sense of including liquids and gases, although certainV of theadvantages of the invention `are more marked `when liquids or hydraulic pressures are employed within the fluidmotor assembly.

l Genetically the fluid motor assembly of the invention-comprises one or more cylinders each providing-Laxwork chambena piston'member in each cylinder,v a: fluid inlet means, and -a fluid outlet means. A motion .transmitting'means is arranged between .the piston member and the driven shaftioraxle and-'inthe' preferred Vform of the invention? members of said motiontransmitting means controlithe time of operation of valves in the fluid inlet and'in the fluid outlet means. -Also `the invention .basically contemplates a reversing meanszprovided vin several `ways which depend upon..theistructures providing the uniow action within the-cylinders .ofthefluid motor assembly.

:The 'simplest illustrated embodiment of 'the invention is shown in Figs. l; 2 andi3 and comprises a two cylinder motor assembly driving a wheel, such as an automobile wheel, which may encircle the motor assembly. Although such two cylinder fluid motor assembly is not shown with reversing means it may readily be made reversible by the other arrangement disclosed herewith.

Such two-cylinder uid motor assembly comprises a pair of cylinders 84 and 85 each having, respectively heads 86 and 81 and walls 88 and 89 providing work chambers 90 and 9|. A hous- ,ing supports said cylinders 84 and 85 and also provides a crank case therefor. Such a housing comprises side plates 92 and 93, end plates 94 and 95, top plate 96 and bottom plate 91. Said plates 92-91 are fastened along their margins in fluid tight relation in any well known manner or may be formed integrally with each other and with the cylinders 84 and 85. The cylinders 84 and 85 are mounted laterally between side plates 92 and 93, while the head 86 of cylinder 84 is fastened to end plate 94 and the head 81 of cylinder 85 is mounted upon end plate 95. Preferably each of cylinder heads 86 and 81 respectively have ertensions 86' and 81' provided with inlet openings 98 and 99 which are connected to the fluid inlet means in a manner to be described later. Said side plate 92 may constitute a mounting support for the entire fluid motor assembly and may be mounted in any convenient manner to a base or the chassis of an automobile.

A piston member fits into the work chamber 90 of cylinder 84 and a piston member |0| fits into the work chamber 9| of cylinder 85. Preferably said cylinders 84 and 85 are mounted on said housing in diametrically opposed relation and with their center lines and the center lines of piston members |00 and |0| on the same straight line or axis. A uid exhaust passage |02 is provided in piston member |00 and a fluid exhaust passage |03 is provided in piston member |0I, and said fluid exhaust passages |02 and |03 are displaced in opposite directions from the axis through the center lines of said piston members |00 and |0|. The inner portions of said piston members |00 and |0| may each be laterally recessed on bothsides, see Fig. 2, to provide a T-shaped horizontal cross-section therefor.

The motion transmitting means comprises a yoke member, a transversely moving bearing member, and a crank shaft journaled in said housing. The yoke member |04 is rectangular in form and has sides |05 and |00 respectively fastened in any suitable fashion to the inner ends of piston members |00 and |0|. Yoke side |05 is provided with a port |01 registering with fluid exhaust passage |02 and yoke side |06 is provided with a port |08 in registry with fluid exhaust passage-|03.

The crank shaft |09 includes crank arms ||0 and a crank pin and is journaled in ball bearing assemblies ||2 and ||3 which are mounted respectively in side plates 92 and 93 of the housing. The transversely moving member of the motion transmitting means is a bearing block member ||4 rotatable on crank pin mounted to reciprocate within said rectangular yoke member |04 and constitutes therewith the wellknown Scotch yoke. As best seen from Fig. 1, the relative positions of ports |01 and |08 are such that said bearing block member ||4 closes both of said ports |01 and |08 for the instant when piston members |00 and |0| are at the ends of their working and return strokes. Said member ||4 also closes ports |01 and |08 during the working strokes of the respective piston members |00 and |0| and opens said ports |01 and |08 during the return strokes of the respective piston members |00 and |0I.

The uid inlet means is arranged to connect a source of iluid under pressure alternatively to the work chambers 90 and 9| in proper timed relation to the opening and closing of ports |01 and |08 by the transversely moving member of the motion transmitting means. According to the invention and as shown in Fig. 2, the lluid inlet means includes a valve member driven by crank shaft |09 and appropriate fluid connections. A valve' housing ||5 mounted at one end on the casing of ball bearing assembly ||2 is connected at its other end to a coupling ||6 which communicates with a source of fluid under pressure, and is provided at opposite sides with outlets ||1 and ||8. A cylindrical valve member ||9 is rotatably mounted within said valve housing H5, is centrally provided with a transverse slot |20 alternatively registering with outlets |1 and I8, and has an internal bore |2| for connecting said slot |20 with coupling ||6 and a source of fluid under pressure. A fluid inlet pipe |22 is connected at one end to valve housing ||5 over outlet ||1 and at its other end to extension 86 in communication with inlet opening 08. A second fluid inlet pipe |23 is connected at one end to valve housing ||5 over outlet ||8 and at its other end to extension 81 of cylinder head 81 and conducts fluid under pressure from said outlet ||8 to cylinder inlet opening 99. The valve member |9 is connected by dowel pins |24 or in any other manner to the end of crank shaft |09 to rotate therewith.

The fluid outlet means for the two cylinder fluid motor assembly of the invention are provided respectively by the exhaust passages |02 and |03, ports 01 and |08, and bearing block member ||4. Note that exhaust passages |02 and |03 extend in the direction of movement of the piston members |00 and |0| during their respective working strokes. The fluid discharged from both of such uid outlet means is collected in the housing from whence it may be removed by gravity or suction to a reservoir and/or pump. For this purpose a fluid outlet pipe |25 is provided on bottom plate 91 of the housing.

The effectiveness and compactness of the fluid motor assembly according to the invention is forcibly demonstrated by the fact that the entire motor assembly may be placed within the rim of a standard automobile wheel. As shown in Fig. 2 such standard automobile wheel |26 has a hub |21 mounted on crank shaft 09 by a washer |28 and nut |29 and has a rim |30 which overhangs the inner side of said fluid motor assembly.

Assuming clockwise rotation of crank shaft |09, a supply of fluid under pressure connected to the internal bore |2| of valve member H9, and positions of the parts as shown in Figs. l and 2, piston |0| has just completed its working stroke and valve outlet 8 is closed by valve member ||9 while outlet |1 is just about to be opened thereby. Likewise exhaust ports |01 and |08 are'both closed by member ||4, port |01 just having been closed after the return stroke of piston member |00 and port |08 is just about to be opened during the return stroke of piston |0|. During rotation of crank shaft |09 through 180 from the position shown, the valve member ||9 conducts the fluid under pressure to outlet l1, pipe |22 and opening 98 to work chamber 90. At the same time the closed but on the other hand opens port |08 to permit discharge from the work chamberv89 of the 'Huid therein inthe direction of its movement which caused the 'working stroke of piston member IUI. Such discharge of, the Vfluid in the same directionas its momentum provides extremely rapid vfluid exhaust and greatly reduces the back pressure in the'cylinder, all of which makes possible sped and eflciency of operation not heretofore obtainable. Precisely at 180 from that shown all inlet and outlet valves are momentarily closed and during the rotation of crank |99 from 180 to 360, valve outlet ||1 is closed and valve outlet I |8 is opened while exhaust port |01 is open and exhaust port |63 is closed. Whereupon the cycle is repeated.

The fundamental principles according to the invention of iluid motor operation and reversal are applicable to multiple cylinder u'id motor assemblies. The four-cylinder embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4-1'3, inclusive shows that the invention is completely applicable to a fluid motor having a plurality or a plurality of pairs of cylinders.

In the four cylinder fluid motor assembly the cylinders |3|, |32, |33 and |34 are preferably arranged in quadrature and piston members |35, |36, |31 and |38 are respectively movable within the vwork chambers of said cylinders |3 |-|3|. As shownin Fig. 4f6 'the cylinders |3|34 are formed integrally 4with and supported by a generally circular housing |39 having side walls |40 and 4|, having a plurality of integral valve seats |42, |43,'|44`and |45 respectively adjacent each of said cylinders |3||34, and provided with a shoulder |46'to which Vafluid outlet pipe |41 is connected. a

Each ofthe housing sidewalls |49 and |4| respectively has a dished portion |43 and |49 in whichthe ball bearing assemblies |56 and |5| are respectively mounted. A crankshaft |52 is journaled in said balll bearing assemblies |50 and |5| and hasA crank arms |53 and a crank pin |54. It will be noted from Fig. 6 that the outwardly dished portions |48 and |49 off-slet the ball bearing assemblies |50 vand |5| so as to provide clearance 'for the crank arrns |53. Said crank shaft' |52 carries on one end lock units |55 and a gear |56 or other suitable driven member may be mounted on the other end of shaft |52.

Each-of the' piston members |35| 3B'is provided with a' 'fluid exhaust passage extending .substantially inthe direction of the working stroke of the piston 'member and eachV fluid exhaust passage has two branches, onev for forward and the other for reverse rotation ofthe uid motorassembly. In order to provide clearances for the motion transmitting meansv later to be described, the piston members |35|33 are each laterally recessed to provide an L-shaped cross-section axially as best shown. in Fig. 6. Specifically piston member |36 is provided with a iiuid exhaust passage |36e having a branch |36f for forward rotation and a branch |361- for reverse rotation of the fluid motor assembly. Each of the other piston members` |35, |31 and |38 are provided with fluid exhaust passages and branches which will not be described in detail `because of the similarity of their arrangement.

The opposite pair of piston members |36 and |38 are laterally and similarly recessed from one side, see Figs. and 6, while the other opposite pair of` piston members and |31 are both laterally recessed from the other side 'or in a complementary manner..

"Themotion transmitting means comprises a 6. pair'of rectangular yoke members |51 and |58. Yokemelmber |51 has side bars |59 and |60 each attached to the inner end of the adjacent members |36 and |38 as by screws |6| and |62 and each provided in its outer face with a guideway respectively for valve plates |63 and |66. Similarly yoke member |58 has side bars |65 and |63 each attached respectively to the inner ends of the adjacent piston members |35 and |31 and each provided in its outer face with a guideway for valve plates |61 and |68. Said side bars |53, |60, |65 and |66 are each provided with a pair of ports registering respectively. with the fluid exhaust branches in each piston member. For example, as shown in Fig. 4, the side bar |65 of yoke member |58 is provided with a port |69 registering with or providing a continuation of fluid exhaust branch |35f in piston member |35 and is also provided with a port |16 in alignment with fluid exhaust branch |351 in said piston member |35. Said valve plate |31, which is'movable to either of two positions, as more fully explained hereinafter, has a pair of openings |1| and |12 for controlling the direction of rotation of the fluid motor assembly. In vthe position shown in Fig. 4 and for clockwise rotation, opening |1| in valve plate |61 registers with fluid exhaust branch |35f and with port |63 while said valve |51 closes fluid exhaust branch |35T. On the other hand when valve plate |61 is in its other position fluid exhaust branch |35f is closed and opening |12 registers with fluid exhaust branch |351' and port |10` for counter-clockwise rotation of said fluid motor assembly.

A common bearing block member |13 is journaled on crank pin |54 and has its opposite sur-l faces sliding within said yoke members |51 and |58 to control the opening and closing of the ports in said side bars |59, |60, |65 and |66. As the respective yoke members |51 and Y|50 are acted upon by successive piston members/ |35|38, and said bearing block member revolves upon crank pin |54, said yoke members |51 and |58 move perpendicularly each with respect to the other. As a result the yoke member |58 reciprocates within the lateral recesses in piston members |36 and |38, see Fig. 6, and the lengthV of said lateral recesses is such that there will be no interference between yoke member |58 and'piston members |35 and |38 even in the extreme inner positions thereof. In the same manner the path of reciprocation of yoke member |51 is within the .lateral recesses in piston members |35 and |31. Thus as eachof piston members |35|38 successively executes a working stroke, the crank shaft |52 and crank pin |54 thereon are rotated by the resultant of theforces produced by two adjacent cylinders exerting pressure upon its piston members which in turn transmit the forces to the two yoke members andthen to member .|13.

The fluid inlet means for the four cylinder embodiment of my invention comprises an inlet valve each adjacent the next cylinder forward in the direction of rotation, valve operating means actuated by said yoke members |51 and |56, and pipe connections as shown in Fig. 13.

` The inlet valve members F14-|11 are respectively rotatably mounted within valve seats |42- |45. Inlet valve member |11 is shown in detail in Figs. 9712, is provided with a chordal passage |18, an axial hole |19 and carries a cross pin |80. YThe valve seat |45 is provided with a plurality of ports, a forward inlet port |8|, a reverse inlet port |32, a forward outlet port |83, and a reverse outlet port |84, see Figs. 14 and 15, said forward and reverse inlet ports |8| and |82 being preferably connected by a passage |85. A fluid inlet pipe |86 is connected to a source of uid under pressure by a fluid supply main 228 leading from a source of iiuid pressure 229 and connected to each of iluid inlet pipes |86, each of which conducts such fluid pressure to the respective forward and reverse inlet ports |8| and |82. Said forward outlet port |83 is connected to a forward fluid outlet pipe |81 which leads to the inlet pipe |88 connected through Vthe head of cylinder |34 to the work chamber therein. In a similar manner the forward outlet port from valve seat |42 is connected by a pipe |9| to inlet pipe |92 leading into cylinder |3|, the forward outlet port from valve seat |43 is connected by pipes |93 and |94 to cylinder |32, and theforward outlet port from valve seat |44 is connected by pipes |95 and |96 to cylinder |33.

The inlet valve operating means comprises an actuating member mounted upon one of the yoke members and causing oscillation of the inlet valve members. As shown, a valve actuating rod |89 is mounted upon the side bar |65 of yoke member |58 and reciprocates within the axial hole |19 in inlet valve member |11. Said valve actuating rod |89, see Fig. 7, is provided with a transverse slot |90 through which extends the cross pin |80 of valve member |11. The upper half of slot |90 is perfectly straight and imparts no movement to cross pin |80 but the lower half of slot |90 is spiraled suciently to move cross pin |80 and oscillate inlet valve member |11 from the closed or dot-dash line position shown in Fig. 11 to the open or solid line position shown in Fig. l1, and then return said valve member |11 to its original open position. In other words, with yoke member |58 in its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 4, valve member |11 is open and iiuid under pressure is passing from uid inlet pipe |86 through passage |85, forward inlet port |8|, chordal passage |18, forward outlet port |83, forward uid outlet pipe |81 and inlet pipe |88 into the work chamberof cylinder |34. During the succeeding 90 rotation of crank pin |54, said valve |11 is being closed according to the curvature of the lower half of slot |90 and just as piston member |38 completes its working stroke valve |11 is completely closed. Since the upper half of slot |90 is straight said valve |11 remains closed during the next 180 rotation of crank pin |54. Then as the crank pin |54 crosses the center line of cylinder |34 or at 270 from the position shown in Fig. 4, the yoke member |58 moves the lower half of slot |90 past cross pin |80 and causes an opening of valve member |11 so that fluid under pressure through the path already traced starts the working stroke of piston member |38.

In a similar manner valve actuating rod |91 is mounted on and moves with side bar |59 of yoke member |51, is provided with a slot |98 and actuates the cross pin |99 in inlet valve member |14. Valve actuating rod 200 is mounted on and moves with the side bar |66 of yoke member |58, is provided with a slot and oscillates the cross pin 202 in inlet valve member |15. Also valve actuating rod 203 is mounted upon and moves with side bar |60 of yoke member |51, is provided with a slot 204 and oscillates the cross pin 205 in inlet valve member |16.

The contour of said slots |90, |98, 20| and 204 in the respective valve actuating rods may be varied to give any desired or known character of valve operation that is deemed necessary or desirable or that may be required by the nature of thel iiuid supplied under pressure.

Said valve actuating rods |89, |91, 200 and 203 are each rotatably mounted on the respective side bars |65, |59, |66 and |60 of yoke members |51 and |58. For example, valve actuating rod |89 has a flange 206 provided with arcuate slots 201 engaging headed bolts 208 on side bar |65 and has a handle 209 whereby said rod |89 may be turned manually through an angle determined by the length of said arcuate slots 201. An eccentric pin 2|0 depends from flange 206 and engages a transverse slot 2|| in valve plate |61, see Figs. 4 and 11. When handle 209, rod |89 and valve plate |61 are in one extreme position, the opening |1| in valve plate |61 registers with fluid exhaust branch |35f and port |69 and vice versa when handle 209, rod |89, and valve plate |61 are in the other extreme position the opening |12 registers with fluid exhaust branch |351 and port |10 and said valve plate |61 closes fluid exhaust branch |35f.

In a similar manner, a handle 2|2 on valve actuating rod 200 can be operated to move valve plate |68 to either of two positions alternatively to open ports =2|3 and 2|4 in side bar |66 and re- :pectively in alignment with the fluid exhaust branches in piston member |31. Likewise a handle 2|5 on Valve actuating rod |91 can be operated to move valve plate |63 to either of two positions alternatively to open ports 2|6 and 2|1 in side bar |59 and respectively in alignment with the fluid exhaust branches in piston member |32. Finally a handle 2|8 on valve actuating rod 203 is shifted to either of two positions to move valve plate |64 alternatively to open ports 2|9 and 220 in side bar |60 and in communication with the fluid exhaust branches in piston member |38.

The uid outlet means comprises the iiuid exhaust passages in each piston member and also an exhaust valve or port controlled by the motion transmitting means in timed relation to the operation of the fluid inlet valves which are also operated by said motion transmitting means. Specically, as shown the bearing block member |13 controls the opening and closing of the fluid exhaust ports |69, 2|6, 2|3 and 2|9 in proper sequence and at the proper time.

Assuming valve overlaps corresponding to 5 movement of the crank pin |54, clockwise rotation, and taking the position of crank pin |54 in Fig. 4 as 0, the relative operation of the inlet and outlet valves by the arrangement just described is as follows: (C indicates that the valve or port is closed and O indicates that the valve or port is open.)

Cylinder 131 Cylinder 132 Cylinder 133 Cylinder 134 Degrees C C C O C C O C O C C O C O O C O C C C C O C C O C O C C O C O C C O C C C C O C 0 O C O C C O O C C 0 C C C C O C O O C O C It is now clear that the working strokes in the respective cylinders occur successively in a clockwise direction, that the working strokes in two adjacent cylinders overlap, and that the inlet valves are closed-while the exhaust ports are open during the successive return strokes in the re- 9 spective cylinders. Also the fundamental principle of the invention is fully utilized in that the discharge of fluid from each cylinder occurs'during the return strokes of the piston members and substantially in the direction of iluid movement causing the working strokes of said piston members. The fluid discharged from the exhaust ports |69, 2|9, 2|3 and 2|9 collects in the lower portion of housing |39 from where it may be drained or drawn by suction through the outlet,4

pipe |41 preferably for recirculation through the motor assembly.

On many occasions it is very desirable that a fluid motor assembly be reversible and the multiple cylinder fluid motor assembly of the` 208, see Fig. 12. Ordinarily the friction between,l`

ilange 206, and the heads of the bolts 208 and side bar |65 and between valve plate |i61'and side bar |65 and the inner end of piston member |35 is suilicient to maintain said rod |89 in its manually set position and to actuate the cross pin |80 off inlet valve member |11. Optionally a ball detent 22| is pressed by a spring 2122 into either of dimples 223 in flange 206 to hold the valve actuating rod V89 in either of its manually set positions.

The rotation of the'valve actuating rods as,;

just.described serves several purposes, first, it closes the forward fluid exhaust branches in the piston members and opens the reverse fluid exhaust branches therein, second, the fluid inlet valves are rotated to direct the incoming fluid;

controlled thereby into the next following cylinder in the direction of rotation, which is now reversed, and to change the timing of said inlet valves relative to the closing and opening by the bearing block member |13 of the reverse fluid ex-iil r haust branches in the piston members in the cylinders to which the inlet valves are now connected. The consequences of rotation of the manually operable reversing handles 209, 2|5, 2|2 and 2|18 can be best understood by reference to Fig. l2 and by comparing it to Fig. 1l. Irrespective of the longitudinal position of cross pinl|80 in slot |90 of valve actuating rod |89, counterclockwise rotation of said rod |=89 by similar rotation of handle 209 rotates inlet valve member |11, L

for example, from the full line position shown in Fig. 11 to the dot-dash line position shown in Fig. l2. As a result reciprocation of the valve actuating rod |89, by reason of the reciprocation of yoke member |58, now oscillates inlet valve member |11 between the full line and dot-dash line positions shown in Fig. 12. In other words, manual rotation of valve actuating rod |89 has moved inlet valve member |11 so that its oscillation thereby now moves chordal passage |18 into and out of registry with reverse inlet port |82 and reverse outlet port |84. Said reverse outlet port |84 from valve seat |45 is connected by a pipe 224 to the pipe |94 leading into cylinder |32,'see Fig. 13. In a similar manner, the reverse outlet port from valve seat |32 is connected by a pipe 225 to the pipe |96 leading into cylinder |33, the reverse outlet port from valve seat |43 is connected by. a pipe '226 to inlet pipe |38. leading into .cylinder |34, andthe reverse outlet port from valve seat |44 is connected by a pipe 221 to thepipe |92 leading into cylinder |35.

1 Referring now to Fig. 4 and assuming counterclockwise rotation of crank pin |54, it will be noted that bearing block member |13 now successively opens and closes the reverse fluid exhaust ports |10, 220, 2|4 and 2|1 and the reverse fluid exhaust branches in each of piston members |35, |38, |31 and |36 in proper timed relation to the opening and closing lof the fluid inlet valves by the respective valve actuating rods 203, 200, |91 and |89.

A clearer understanding of the relative operation of the inlet and exhaust valves will be obtained from a tabulation of the valve positions during one cycle of operation. Assuming valve overlaps corresponding to 5 movement of crank pin E54, counterclockwise rotation, and that the position of crank pin |54 shown in Fig. 4 is 0, and indicating a closed valve or port by C and an open Valve or port by O," the relative operation of the inlet and outlet valves just described is as follows:

Cylinder 131 Cylinder 134 Cylinder 133 Cylinder 132 Degrees 17s 17o 175 22o 174 214 177 217 o Y o c o c C o c o c o o o o o c o c c c c o c c o c o c c o G o c o o c o o c o o o o c o o C o C o c o o o c o o o c o o C o c Similarly to the sequences for forward rotation, it is noted that the working strokes, indicated by open inlet Valves occur simultaneously for successive cylinders in the direction of rotation such as |3| and |34 during 95-175 while Ithe working stroke for cylinder |34 also overlaps the working stroke for cylinder |33 during 1`85265. A similar observation can be made for the return strokes which are indicated by open exhaust ports.

Many variations of the present invention are possible. As shown herein the inlet and outlet valves may be operated by the motion transmitting means but the invention in its broadest aspects contemplates any type of control for fluid inlets or outlets as long as the iluid exhaust from a cylinder is substantially in the direction of the fluid movement causing the working stroke of the piston. Also the reversing means shown may be applied to various types of fluid motor assemblies. In short the present disclosure is only illustrative and the' true scope of the invention is dei-ined by the claims which follow.

Having now particularly described my invention what 1 desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States and what I claim is:

l. A fluid motor assembly comprising a cylinder providing a work chamber, a piston member within said work chamber, having a working stroke and a return stroke, and provided with a passage for discharging iluid from said chamber substantially in the direction of said working stroke, and a motion transmitting means operatively connected tol said piston member and including a member reciprocating transversely of said piston member in timed relation to the working and return strokes thereof and closing said fluid passage during the working stroke of said -piston f member andvopening said passage during the return stroke of said piston member.

2. A fluid motor assembly comprising a cylinder providing a work chamber with an open end, a housing enclosing the open end of said cylinder, a crank shaft rotatably mounted in said housing, a piston member within said work chamber, having a working stroke and a return stroke, and provided with a passage for discharging iluid substantially in the direction of said working stroke, and a motion transmit-l ting means between said piston member and said crank shaft and including a member moving transversely of said piston member in timed relation to reciprocation thereof and closing said fluid passage during the working stroke of said piston member and opening said passage during the return stroke of said piston member.

3. A iluid motor assembly comprising a cylinder providing a work chamber, a piston member within said work chamber, having a working stroke and a return stroke, and provided with a passage for discharging fluid from said chamber substantially in the direction of said working stroke, and a motion transmitting means including a rectangular yoke member connected to the end of said piston member and provided with a discharge opening communicating with said passage and including a rectangular bearing member reciprocating within said yoke member to close said discharge opening during the working stroke of said piston member and to uncover said discharge opening during the return stroke of said piston member.

4. A fluid motor assembly comprising a plurality of cylinders each providing a work chamber, a piston member in each of said cylinders, having a working stroke and a return stroke, and provided with a passage for discharging fluid substantially in the direction of the working stroke of said piston member, a shaft rotatably mounted, a motion transmitting means connected between each piston member and said shaft, a iluid inlet means connected to each work chamber and including a valve member, a fluid outlet means including a valve member for controlling the fluid discharge passage in each piston member, and valve operating means operatively connected to said motion transmitting means, opening the valve in each fluid inlet means during the Working stroke of the respective piston member, and opening the valve in each fluid outlet means during the return stroke of the respective piston member.

5. A fluid motor assembly comprising a pair of cylinders mounted in opposed spaced relation on an axis and each providing a work chamber, a pair of piston members each within respective work chambers, one piston member having a working stroke and return stroke respectively during the return stroke and working stroke of the other piston member and each provided with a passage oppositely displaced with respect to said axis between said cylinders and for discharging fluid from the respective Work chamber substantially in the direction of the respective working stroke, and a motion transmitting means operatively connected between said piston members and including a single member reciprocating transversely of said piston members in timed relation to the working and return strokes thereof and for closing the uid passages in each piston member during its working stroke and alternately opening each fluid passageduring the return stroke of each piston member;-

6. A- fluid motor assembly comprising a cylf inder providing a Work chamber, a piston member having a Working stroke and a return stroke within said chamber and provided with a passage for discharging fluid substantially in the direction of said working stroke, a motion transmitting means operatively connected to said piston member and including a bearing block and a yoke bar operatively connected between said piston member and said bearing block and both reciprocating transversely of said piston member in timed relation thereto, a fluid inlet means connected to said work chamber and including a valve operated by said yoke bar to introduce fluid into said work chamber during the working stroke thereof and to interrupt said fluid during the return stroke of said piston member, and a fluid outlet means operated by said bearing block to open the passage in said piston member during the return stroke thereof and to close said passage during the working stroke of said piston member.

'7. A fluid motor assembly for rotating a shaft about an axis comprising two pairs of cylinders each providing a work chamber and arranged in quadrature about said axis, a piston member in each of said cylinders and having a working stroke and a return stroke, a motion transmitting means operatively connected between each of said piston members and said shaft and including one member movable with one of the opposite pairs of piston members and a second member movable with the' other of the opposite pairs of piston members, a fluid inlet means connected to each work chamber and including an inlet valve, and an inlet valve operating means mounted upon said other member of said motion transmitting means and operatively connected to the inlet valve for the cylinder next behind in the direction of rotation.

8. A fluid motor assembly for driving a shaft about its axis comprising two pairs of cylinders each providing a Work chamber and arranged in quadrature about said axis with the center line of each cylinder in a plane perpendicular to said axis, a piston member in each of said cylinders and having a working stroke and a return stroke, both piston members of the opposite pairs being laterally recessed to form L-shaped crosssections and each being provided with a passage for discharging fluid substantially in the direction of the working stroke of said piston member, a housing connected to the inner ends of all of said cylinders, a crank shaft r-otatably mounted in said housing and having a crank pin, a pair of rectangular yoke members each connected at opposite sides of each of the piston members of opposite pairs, a crank bearing mounted on said crank pin, slidable in both of said yoke members and opening the passage through each piston member at the end of its working stroke for rapid fluid discharge into said housing, a uid inlet means connected to each work chamber and including a valve, and valve operating means actuated by said yoke members and timed to open the valve of each fluid inlet means as the respective piston member starts its working stroke and to close such inlet valve at the end of said working stroke.

9. A reversible fluid motor assembly comprising a cylinder providing a Work chamber, a piston member movable within said work chamber, an axle rotatably mounted, a motion transmitting means connected between said piston member and axle and convertingthe reciprocation of said piston member into rotation of said axle, a fluid inlet means connected to said work chamber for 13 introducing fluid thereinto to displace said piston member for its working stroke, a fluid outlet means operated in timed relation to said piston V,member and providing a fluid exhaust passage 'from said chamber in a direction substantially the same as that of the working stroke of said piston member, and a reversing means actuating said fluid inlet and outlet means and for changing the times of opening and closing of said means to reverse the direction of rotation of said axle.

10. A fluid motor assembly comprising a cylinder providing a work chamber, a piston member having a working stroke and return stroke within said chamber and provided with a passage for discharging fluid substantially in the direction of said working stroke, a motion transmitting means connected to said piston member and including a rotatable shaft, a fluid inlet means connected to said work chamber and including an inlet valve member, a fluid outlet means including an outlet valve member controlling the discharge of fluid through said passage, a valve operating means operatively connected to said motion transmitting means, opening said inlet valve member during the working stroke of said piston member and opening said outlet valve member during the return stroke of said piston member, and a reversing means operatively connected to said inlet and outlet valve members and setting them to open and close at the same relative times for reverse rotation of said motor assembly.

11. A reversible fluid motor assembly comprising a cylinder providing a work chamber, a piston member having a Working stroke and return stroke within said chamber and provided with a pair of passages for discharging fluid substantially in the direction of said working stroke, an axle rotatably mounted, a motion transmitting means connected between said piston member and axle and converting the reciprocation of said piston member into rotation of said axle, a fluid inlet means connected to said work chamber and introducing fluid thereinto to displace said piston member for its working stroke, a fluid outlet means operated in timed relation to said piston member and opening either one of said passages in said piston member, and a reversing means actuating said fluid inlet means and said fluid outlet means, for changing the times of opening and closing of said means and including a member for opening the other of said passages and closing said one passage in said piston member for reversing the direction of said axle.

12. A reversible fluid motor assembly comprising a plurality of cylinders each providing a work chamber, a piston member in each of said cylinders, having a working stroke and a return stroke, and provided with a passage for discharging uid substantially in the direction of the working stroke of said piston member, a shaft rotatably mounted, a motion transmitting means connected between each piston member and said shaft, a fluid inlet means connected to each work chamber and including a valve member, a fluid outlet means including a valve member controlling the fluid discharge passage in each piston member, valve operating means opening the valve in each fluid inlet means during the Working stroke of the respective piston member and Vopening the valve in each uid outlet means during the return stroke of the respective piston member, and reversing means including a reversing valve for the fluid outlet means and operatively connected to the valve of said fluid inlet means and said reversing valve and movable to alter the positions of said valves for rotation of said fluid motor assembly in the opposite direction.

13, A reversible fluid motor assembly comprising a cylinder providing a work chamber, a piston member having a reciprocating stroke within said chamber and provided with a pair of passages for discharging fluid substantially in the direction of its movement for displacing said piston member, and a reversing member operatively associated with said piston member, movable to one position to open one and close the other of said passages, and movable to another position to close said one and open said other of said passages.

CLARENCE RAY BUTTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 313,728 Hardy Mar. 10, 1885 492,267 Bruce Feb. 21, 1893 1,079,934 Cheyne Dec. 2, 1913 1,423,386 Bair July 18, 1922 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 437,568 France Feb. 22, 1912 442,425 France June 20, 1912 22,645 Great Britain Oct. 2, 1897 481,093 Great Britain Mar. 7, 1938 

